Neurocognitive Development of Children After a Cerebellar Tumor in Infancy: A Longitudinal Study

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term neuropsychologic effects experienced by children who have tumors in the cerebellum that are diagnosed and treated during infancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven children with posterior fossa tumors diagnosed at less than 36 months of age were assessed prospectively with a comprehensive set of age-appropriate tests. Group means and SDs are reported for assessments conducted at diagnosis (analysis 1) and at the most recent follow-up appointment (analysis 2). Cognitive developmental growth curves were derived from the prospective data (analysis 3) using mixed model regression analyses and controlling for age at diagnosis and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: In the first analysis, eight of 11 infants at diagnosis scored within normal limits on all neuropsychologic domains, except for motor skills, which were impaired. In the second analysis, mean scores at the most recent follow-up of 21 of 27 patients were mostly in the normal range; however, group comparisons between those...